Valley Players make their debut with ‘The Lover’

Valley Players make their debut with ‘The Lover’

Napa Valley Register Press Release, December 21, 2016

Valley Players, a new local theater troupe, open the new year with their first production, “The Lover,” by Harold Pinter at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville Jan 3-5.

“The Lover” is a quirky, tense, intriguing play that examines the private intricacies of modern marriage. To all outward appearances, Sarah and Richard are a respectable, conventional suburban couple. Behind closed doors, however, they enjoy a surprising and intriguing arrangement.

Like any of Pinter’s works, this one-act play contains the laughs, tears and tensions that arise from the social intricacies of modern life.

Directed by Debbie Baumann and featuring June Alane Reif, Richard Pallaziol and Walter Hamlin, “The Lover” will be presented in a minimalistic style and features photographs by local artist, Debbie Ames. It is recommended for adult audiences only.

Valley Players is a community-based theatrical group focusing on classic and contemporary plays that provide roles for a wide range of actors. Founded by Debbie Gargalikis Baumann, Barbara Nemko, Reif and Patricia Giusti Quinn, the group plans to present a variety of productions “sure to appeal to both mature and younger audiences,” according to a press release.

The quartet of women, formerly part of Dreamweavers Theatre in Napa, noted that they are delighted to be able to fill a special role in the theatre community.

“I would say that the valley has wonderful entertainment options, great music, and fabulous theater with Napa Valley College and Lucky Penny, but since the demise of Dreamweavers, there is a need for more drama, comedy, and mystery productions,” Nemko said. “As veterans of Dreamweavers, we enjoyed bringing so many productions of that type to the Napa audience and we want to continue to do this.”

“I wanted to go back to the theater and keep our age group alive with plays for our age range,” Baumann added. “To bring local talent again to the stage; not having age get in the way. We may be getting older and roles are getting slimmer, but we are still full of life, ideas, energy.